Smyrna times., 1887-07-27
For the Smyrna Times.
Souvenirs Of Jefferson.

'' -AO ~ obCdAui nurse ana 100
since 1888 in search of literary CLEAN
lngs includes among many reminis
cences of the'great signer's home lif
at MONTICELLO, obtained not alone from
his unpublished letters, but also from
the personal recollections of persons
now living whose memory of him a
this time is vivid, reverentially. affee
uonate and interesting because nor
hitherto found on any printed page.
Monticello, or little mount upor
Which Mr.. Jefferson built his mansion
alter his ancestral home at ShadwelI
had been destroyed by fire, is a wooded
eminence five hundred and eighty feet
nigh and commanding superb view OF
the country in all directions. An easv
road leads to Charlottesville two miles
away on the west, and where after.
wards he'succeeded by the most inpen-
lous reasoning in prevailing upon the
Legislature to locate the now famous
University of Virginia On the other
SIDE ofthe mount and at the same dis.
tance is Shadwell where Mr.. Jefferson
was born; its,site now in ruins and
marked by three tall locust trees.
As IS nearly the case with all of the
great men of this country during the
past century, the best of the personal
recollections concerning them is to he
obtained from old body servants who
waited upon them and who fortunately
for history "never die" and so Aunt
Polly recalls with particular pleasure
IN looking back over her career. that
Mr.. Jefferson always greeted her and
shook hands with her every time he
returned home after an absence. The
polltest OF men, he shook hands in fact.
with everybody, white or black whom
he knew, OF who was presented to him
On top of the mountain in front of
the house there was broad ditch and
fence built slantingly over it in order
to keep cattle from getting on the lawn
as they browsed upwards. This was
done for the better protection of the
lawn which was always kept in the
most perfect condition. At first glance
1T looked as if the enclosure had been
blown down by the wind all around
the yard. The ditch and fence were
his own contrivance to preserve the
lawn dOubly sure from intrusion and
there were various other contrivances
of his own peculiar invention adaDted
to the needs of the establishment. Near
the gate or main entrance was the
horse rack or block for mounting, a
familiar object upon most Southern
estates at the present day.
At this block he would have his
horse brought amidst pouring rain or
snow, mount him and ride
wherever he wanted to go. He never
regarded the weather in the least when
he desired to 60 out summer or winter. T
and was aback of the finest horse to be
seen, though in the last years ofhis life
his steed, like his own homespun dress.
was somewhat rusty, but never the less
no one ever mistOok horse and rider
along the road they were too thor
)ughly we'll known. He was extreme
y fond of children of which quite a
brood found shelter under his roof
;hielly the RandOlphs and Carr's bv
us daughters marriages, from races
Iround the mansion in which he was
lways the umpire to climbing on his
Knees, jumping about, halloing aud
aughing, etc, and in all their didosr
le appeared to take as much pleasure
IS themselves. His spirits were youth
ul and gay to the last, and he liked
'oung company. When seated medi-
1tIng over something he was wont to
Ock his hands together and twirl his
humbs, and this act furnished a fund
I amusement to the little folks, though
+ course they always paid him the ut
lOst respect.
In those days of the olden time
hildren were not given so much free
ON as now, were never allowed to sit
own at the table with grown folks.
nd were switched by their mothers !
'r any misconduct especially for any
ling bordering on pertness. The
ursery was then no sham.
Mr.. Jefferson's estate derived G
trough inheritance and purchase COM
rised upwards of 10000 acres divided
ITO six farms, on one of which is the 5
'lebrated Natural Bridge and a trip
which was among the attractions y
sitOrs had in his life time to Month
lilo. Although Mr.. jefferson was S
nown in public life as a lawyer to c
hieh was added a profound know
dge of the sciencesIincluding Philos- II
ply, Mathematics and Letters, his d
lief boast was in being Farmer {
7 profession. To this claim and in 0
lppOrt Of it he was accustomed to 3
Ike cognisance of the most minute af- u
irs by keeping written records of u
filing details as they occurred in the 0
of his estate. He NAV be 9
id to have lived pen in hand when at 0
1me. He kept a garden book, farm
'ok, weather book, receipt book, Il
I'd pocket expenditure book and as o
s business grew, a fee book, and into K
Iese books tumbled everything writ o
n in his small compact hand. Here d
sample of the records in his pocket p
'ok which has no doubt given name q
the present receptacle to hold d
oney. g
" Put into church box Id"
" Paid a barber 11d.n n
" Paid for pins As 3D." ss
" Paid for whetting pen-knife 4d." in
" Paid for my part Of an express to q
1Os." d
" Paid Bell for books $685." Il
" Paid postage IS 3d." a
In his garden book countless entries
ay be read like the following: in
" March SOth, sowed a patch Of late +
as" M
F" July 18th. planted ont celerv h,